why my house is not clean

the great
migration
begun
and i am
home
to see it
some left
like my
mother
weeks
ahead
of the
others
ensuring
timely
arrival
some fly
fast, determined
like my
husband
all business
where travel
involved
some delight
like i
in diversion
wafting high
then low
light
upon
the garden
planted
for those
in need
of
refreshing
with a
moment
to linger.



and then:

then there are those
winging north
who knows
what they're
thinking
or where
they are going

another monarch
wings north
perhaps
he forgot
something
to turn off
the iron
or change
for the phone.